A Study on Squash in India A Study on Squash in India 1 Copyright: International Institute of Sports Management, Mumbai This report has been published strictly for educational purposes only. Commercial or non-educational usage of any kind without prior intimation is strictly prohibited. This report cannot be reprinted without the official authorisation of the copyright holder. 2 A Study on Squash in India A Study on Squash in India A Study on Squash in India 3 4 A Study on Squash in India Message The sports industry is witnessing an upward surge. The advent of multiple sporting leagues & increased fan participation has made the sports sector a powerhouse of unexplored avenues & innumerable opportunities. The involvement of youth right from the grassroots level will ensure that the Sports Industry continues to grow. Be it Cricket or Squash, more participation and positive boost is the key behind success in long run. International Institute of Sports Management (IISM), which pioneered sports management education in India, IISM presently offers Bachelors and Masters programmes in association with Mumbai University as well as an autonomous Post Graduate Program in Sports and Wellness Management. IISM equips students with the professional skills and proficiency necessary to have meaningful careers within the sports industry & be a driving force behind its success. We may focus on engaging youth in different capacities. However, the questions remain the same - “Is the youth industry ready? Do they have the required skills? How are they being helped to acquire those skills? We believe in constantly adapting to the industry’s needs. The environment at IISM instils the spirit of initiative, ingenuity and courage in each student along with imparting classroom education and field experience side by side. Our culture facilitates not just learning from academicians and eminent industry captains but peer learning as well. Aided by the latest technology, a continually evolving curriculum, and constant corporate interaction, we wish to transform the youth from being first class management students into astute thought leaders who are ready to take on the challenges of the sports corporate world, both in India and abroad. Our endeavour is to become a ‘movement’ that creates professionals who have the ability and agility to create landmarks and set benchmarks in the sports sector and the business that surrounds it. Our endeavour to empower young professionals to pursue their dream careers amplifies & encourages us to keep moving upward & onward. Mr. Nilesh Kulkarni Director, IISM A Study on Squash in India 5 6 A Study on Squash in India TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 9 1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................11 1.1 Background ..........................................................................................................12 1.2 Significance ..........................................................................................................12 1.3 Objective of the Knowledge Report ............................................................................13 2 Literature Review/Research Review ............................................................................... 15 2.1 Participation Rate in the Sport .................................................................................16 2.1.1 Initiatives Taken by Government and Private Sector ...........................................16 2.2 Infrastructure in the Sport .......................................................................................18 2.2.1 Access to Play at the School and Community Level .............................................18 2.2.2 Steps to make Squash Accessible to the Common People ....................................19 2.3 Coaching Scenario in the Country ..............................................................................19 2.3.1 Certified Coaches in the Country ....................................................................20 2.3.2 Certification Process and Criteria ................................................................... 25 2.4 Competition Structure .............................................................................................26 2.4.1 School Competition Calendar.........................................................................27 2.4.2 Selection Criteria ........................................................................................27 2.4.3 Indian Tournament Schedule (Domestic) .........................................................28 2.4.4 Asian Squash Federation Calendar (2017) ........................................................29 2.4.5 Major Events in Squash - International ............................................................35 A Study on Squash in India 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Career Options ............................................................................................................ 37 3.1 Career Opportunities in Squash .................................................................................38 3.1.1 Demand for Professionals .............................................................................38 3.1.2 Average Compensation for Coaches, Players and Other Professionals .....................39 3.1.3 Existing Courses .........................................................................................42 3.2 Top Brands Associated with the Sport.........................................................................43 4 Parental Angle ............................................................................................................ 45 4.1 Attitude of Parents towards the Sport Squash ..............................................................46 4.2 Why People Play this Sport? Human Motivation? ...........................................................46 4.3 Tele Talk ...................................................................................................................................47 4.4 Way Foreword ..........................................................................................................................48 5 Future plan .............................................................................................................. 51 5.1 What is Missing Today on this Sport? ..........................................................................52 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 53 8 A Study on Squash in India Executive summary Squash as a sport is still not a fully-evolved entity in India. According to “The Squash Rackets Federation of India,” Squash as a sport is established in only 19 states and 4 union territories of the country. The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), the national governing body for Squash in India, is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. As far as the SRFI data is concerned, there is decent participation from the youngsters in each and every age-group, but when we consider the population of 1.3 billion people, it is still insignificant. The tournament takes place in different age-groups at the junior levels (U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19) for both boys and girls. Squash associations can be found in Andaman, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa. Geographically, Squash has covered nearly the whole of India, except the north-east states, Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir. The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) was established to manage squash effectively and with the objective of developing the sport in India. The SRFI has undertaken the following initiatives: • Conducting Coaching camps. • Organising and conducting tournaments (National & International). • Daily training of players at the Indian Squash Academy. • Organising Referee Clinics. • Players’ participation in International competitions. • Level 1, 2 & 3 diploma courses. The SRFI conducts the National Squash Championship and promotes the game through the state- level Squash bodies. The Federation is also in charge of selecting the squad for the national team and picking coaches for the national team. The Federation has established the ICL-TNSRA Squash Academy to provide training facilities to young Squash players. The Academy hosted the World Team Championship in 2007. The SRFI apart, there is also a large number of state-level Squash associations, all of whom are working to promote squash and unearth talent. The state associations organise various tournaments and training camps. A lot of information is available in this report which are ready at hand. Any stakeholder be it federations or parents, can use this to refer as and when required during different decision making process / reference. A Study on Squash in India 9 10 A Study on Squash in India CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION A Study on Squash in India 11 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Squash is an indoor ball sport played in the singles and doubles formats, with two and four players respectively. The game was formerly called Squash rackets. The World Squash Federation (WSF), the international governing body of the sport, is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC),